A reform Democrat welcomes the court-mandated outcome for redistricting, redraws a line for Cuomo

An editorial by Capital discusses Senator Gianaris' acceptance of court involvement in the redistricting process, stating that it would ensure New Yorkers get fair district lines drawn.

A Democratic state senator who has campaign for redistricting reforms and bitterly criticized the new congressional and legislative district lines produced by the legislature said he's glad a federal judge yesterday called for a court intervention.

 

"After Senate Republican broken promises and months of delay we have reached a point where the courts must take action," Senator Michael Gianaris said in a statement. "We agree with the Judge's request. The only way New Yorkers will have fair representation is if the courts not politicians draw the district lines."

 

That last line is particular noteworthy, since Gianaris, who is an ally of Andrew Cuomo, seems to be ruling out the idea that the governor could satisfy reformers or keep his promise on redistricting if he strikes any sort of deal that bases the new lines on the ones that the legislature has come up with. Cuomo has spoken about how he wants "structural" changes to the famously partisan redistricting process in New York, and has vowed to veto lines that aren't independently drawn.

Read the full article here.